what is the law re: driving without insurance? (Chicago: car insurance, attorney)

[amer7]

can anyone tell me what the law is about driving with car insurance? i don't have a car but my girlfriend does and i was wondering if it is legal for me to drive her car even though I'm not insured? she has insurance and liability under her name but not my name. thank you very much.

[soulful]

My understanding is that her insurance would cover her car and other cars you might damage as long as she gives you permission to drive it. However, there is also the issue that you could be personally sued if, for example, you injure someone. I assume her liability would cover that up to her limit?

I would have her call her insurance company and check on all of the above. Good luck

[ofcjim40]

You are fine as long as you have a valid license and her insurance doesn't have any exclusions. The car is basically what's insured in simple terms. As an example, if your girlfriend were to drive a car of a friend and the friend doesn't have insurance on their car. Your GF's insurance does not now cover this car.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by ofcjim40

You are fine as long as you have a valid license and her insurance doesn't have any exclusions. The car is basically what's insured in simple terms. As an example, if your girlfriend were to drive a car of a friend and the friend doesn't have insurance on their car. Your GF's insurance does not now cover this car.

So, acknowledging that you're not an attorney, what happens if you borrow a car that you believe to be (and maybe even are told is) insured but are stopped and only then find out the car doesn't have insurance? How far do you have to go in verifying insurance to avoid legal problems if you borrow a car?

[ofcjim40]

Basically make sure there is, or what appears to be, a valid insurance card in the car. The person operating the vehicle is still the one ultimately held responsible for the vehicle even if not the vehicle owner. So if you are borrowing a car make sure all equipment is working (lights, no loud muffler, etc), and there is insurance because the driver will be held accountable, not the owner. If stopped and unable to produce insurance, a ticket would/could be written.

[Now What]

Originally Posted by emathias

So, acknowledging that you're not an attorney, what happens if you borrow a car that you believe to be (and maybe even are told is) insured but are stopped and only then find out the car doesn't have insurance? How far do you have to go in verifying insurance to avoid legal problems if you borrow a car?

You think a Chicago police officer will let you go because you thought the car was insured, but it wasn't? I don't know the answer, but I would want to see the insurance card before driving that car. Jail sucks!

[chet everett]

You don't go to jail for lack of a valid insurance card. You get a ticket. If you get insurance by the time your court date rolls around you're fine.

[ChicagoMeO]

Why bother getting insurance and paying all that money when we have people like the OP going without insurance? who cares if i cause an accident? the other person's "uninsured motorist" insurance will cover me. Why bother???

[Now What]

Originally Posted by chet everett

You don't go to jail for lack of a valid insurance card. You get a ticket. If you get insurance by the time your court date rolls around you're fine.

You go to jail if you hit and injure or kill somebody and don't have insurance. It isn't a good idea, my man.

[chet everett]

Not sure how things work in Denver but in Illinios vehicular homicide is a whole different class of offense -- felonies generally involve an indictment, trial, sentencing. In contrast violations of the vehicle code are generally handled with a traffic ticket and a possible appearance in traffic court.

Originally Posted by Now What

You go to jail if you hit and injure or kill somebody and don't have insurance. It isn't a good idea, my man.